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The German government doesn't want to alarm anyone but ... one of its decommissioned satellites is expected to fall back to Earth at some point between October and December, and there's a decent chance that the 2.4-ton contraption won't entirely burn up on re-entry, reports Der Spiegel. Which means it could do some serious damage if it lands on a populated area.

"It's very improbable that people would be hit," says the chief of the German space authority. "A lottery win is more probable." More likely is that ROSAT, or what's left of it, crashes into the ocean. If it does appear to be headed for a populated zone, the American and Chinese governments have technology for annihilating satellites mid-orbit. But Germany would have to reach out for help. "We don't have the equipment for that," says the space chief.

Oh great, they said its the same chance as winning the lottery. Now there will be people everywhere looking to get hit. Der Spiegel - "I don't want to alarm you, but you could get hit by a big fireball." Germany - "Nein, nein, nothing to see here. These aren't the satallites your looking for, move along. "